Cyprus police arrest 29 people residing illegally in nationwide overnight operation

Nicosia, Cyprus. Police said they arrested 29 third country nationals residing illegally in Cyprus during a nationwide operation on Sunday night. Authorities said the arrests were part of ongoing efforts to identify and remove people living unlawfully in the republic.

Nationwide operation and arrests

Police said members of the immigration services carried out coordinated checks across multiple districts targeting illegal residence and migration offences. The authorities did not disclose the nationalities of those arrested or specify where the individuals were being held pending further procedures.

Repatriations and arrivals

According to police, 3,115 foreign nationals residing illegally in Cyprus have been repatriated since the beginning of the year through voluntary and forced return procedures. Police also reported that illegal arrivals of third country nationals were limited to 576, compared with 730 during the corresponding period in 2025.

Ongoing enforcement focus

Police said efforts remain focused on increasing the number of returns of people residing unlawfully in Cyprus, in cooperation with other state services involved in migration management and border control.

How do you think the reported reduction in illegal arrivals could affect Cyprus’s migration enforcement efforts?